In brief: Scooter Store expands, AAHomecare celebrates

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas - The Scooter Store has signed agreements with 17 insurance companies, including Medicare Advantage Plans, to bring power mobility devices to nearly 7 million of their members, the provider announced last week. The Scooter Store now provides power wheelchairs and scooters to 3.9 million members in Ohio, 600,000 in Pennsylvania, 600,000 in Washington, 565,000 in Michigan and 340,000 in New York. It provides equipment to another 475,000 customers in states like New Mexico, Oklahoma, Minnesota and Texas. To date, The Scooter Store has more than 125 partnerships with health plans with more than 160 million members. AAHomecare: Celebrate National Homecare Month WASHINGTON - AAHomecare released "Five Facts about Homecare" last week in honor of National Homecare Month: 1.) Among the 8 million Americans who depend on home care are people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's disease, spinal cord injuries, congestive heart failure, diabetes and other conditions; 2.) Virtually every type of health care short of surgery can be performed in the home, including oxygen therapy, wheelchairs, skilled nursing, sleep therapy, infusion therapy, diabetes supplies and hospice; 3.) The home is the most cost effective setting for medical care, making it a key part of the solution to the severe fiscal challenges facing Medicare and Medicaid; 4.) Advances in technology for HME and telemedicine are expanding the clinical effectiveness of home care; and 5.) In the even of a pandemic flu, home care will play a large role in treating the millions who will require care. Juzo offers Web training CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio - Juzo, a manufacturer of compression therapy garments, recently launched an online video series to educate and train providers. The first seminar in the Juzo elearning series covers when and how to take measurements for standard and custom garments. After viewing the free video, providers can take a quiz to test their knowledge. Acquisitions boost Graymark earnings OKLAHOMA CITY - Graymark Healthcare, a holding company that owns sleep centers, independent pharmacies and a medical equipment company, last week reported net revenues of $27.5 million for the third quarter of 2008 compared to $13.7 million for the same period last year. Net revenues were $69.8 million for the nine months ended Sept. 30 compared to $33.3 million last year. Sleep generated net revenues of $4.7 million in the third quarter of 2008, an increase of 80% compared to last year. Pharmacies generated revenues of $22.8 million, a 106% increase. The increases were due primarily to contributions from acquisitions made in the first two quarters of 2008. Americans misunderstand COPD, survey says WASHINGTON - People may be more aware of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but they still don't understand the disease, according to a new survey. Sixty-four percent of 5,399 respondents had heard of COPD, but only 50% recognized the disease as the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, only 44% of respondents reported that COPD is treatable; and only 22% of respondents recognized that their smoking put them at greater risk for the disease. The data comes from an annual survey, HealthStyles, conducted by Porter Novelli. An estimated 12 million Americans are diagnosed with COPD, and another 12 million may have the disease but are undiagnosed. Typically, COPD affects people over 45, especially those who smoke or have smoked.